Degrees of Mike Morgan by Paul Francis Sullivan February 28, 2011 Has there ever been a career quite like that of Mike Morgan? The short answer is no. Nobody has pitched for more different big league teams over a career than Morgan—12 in all. And his career spanned from the late 1970s with the Charlie Finley A’s all the way past the September 11th-healing World Series of 2001. His career has been a sea of contradictions. Morgan was a talented pitcher brought to the majors too quickly and a wily veteran who extended his career longer than anyone would have guessed. He was one of the top picks in the draft and a coveted prospect. And he was a forgotten player exposed in the Rule 5 draft. Morgan played on a Yankee team with many of the players of the great 1970s squads and played against the greatest New York players of the Joe Torre era. Morgan played alongside Red Sox tormentors like Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone. And he was teammates with curse busters David Ortiz and Curt Schilling. He surrendered Carl Yastrzemski’s 400th home run in 1979 and Mark McGwire’s 61st home run in 1998. He was the losing pitcher of Dennis Martinez’s perfect game. Morgan pitched over 10 seasons in the majors before he had a winning season and for a long time was the poster boy for unfulfilled potential. Yet he would finish his career with 141 wins, become a millionaire 20 times over, earn a World Series ring and make the All-Star team. To truly see what a wild ride Morgan’s career truly was, take a look at some of the players he crossed paths with and the managers who put him in the game. There are Hall of Famers, MVPs and Cy Young winners. Plus, he had a list of bullpen closers that went from Hall of Fame legends to players who barely were noticed when they played. From John Candelaria to Deion Sanders, Tony Armas to Bobby Murcer, Rafael Palmeiro to Jack Cust, they all had Morgan in common. Let’s take a closer look, starting with his managers. Morgan’s managers Jack McKeon – 1978 A’s and 1997 Reds Jim Marshall – 1979 A’s Bob Lemon – 1982 Yankees Gene Michael – 1982 Yankees Clyde King – 1982 Yankees Bobby Cox – 1983 Blue Jays Chuck Cottier – 1985 and 1986 Mariners Marty Martinez – 1986 Mariners Dick Williams – 1986 and 1987 Mariners Cal Ripken – 1988 Orioles Frank Robinson – 1988 Orioles Tommy Lasorda – 1989-1991 Dodgers Jim Lefebvre – 1992-1993 Cubs Tom Trebelhorn – 1994 Cubs Jim Riggleman – 1995 and 1998 Cubs Mike Jorgensen – 1995 Cardinals Tony LaRussa – 1996 Cardinals Ray Knight – 1996 and 1997 Reds Tom Kelly – 1998 Twins Johnny Oates – 1999 Rangers Buck Showalter – 2000 Diamondbacks Bob Brenly – 2001 and 2002 Diamondbacks Williams and Lasorda are already in the Hall of Fame. So is Robinson as a player. Cox and LaRussa are locks. And if Showalter turns Baltimore into a champion, who knows? Maybe he’ll make it in, too. Current Hall of Famers who were Morgan’s teammates Andre Dawson – 1992 Cubs Dennis Eckersley – 1996 Cardinals Rich Gossage – 1982 Yankees Rickey Henderson – 1979 A’s Paul Molitor – 1998 Twins Eddie Murray – 1988 Orioles and 1989 Dodgers Cal Ripken Jr. – 1988 Orioles Ryne Sandberg – 1992-1994 Cubs Ozzie Smith – 1995-1996 Cardinals Dave Winfield – 1982 Yankees No doubt Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux will soon join that list. And probably Barry Larkin, as well. A Hardball Times Updateby RJ McDanielGoodbye for now. Morgan’s bullpen closers Elias Sosa – 1978 A’s Dave Heaverlo – 1978 A’s Rich Gossage – 1982 Yankees Randy Moffitt – 1983 Blue Jays Edwin Nunez – 1985 and 1987 Mariners Matt Young – 1986 Mariners Bill Wilkinson – 1987 Mariners Tom Niedenfuer – 1988 Orioles Jay Howell – 1989-1991 Dodgers Bob Scanlan – 1992 Cubs Randy Myers – 1993-1995 Cubs Tom Henke – 1995 Cardinals Dennis Eckersley – 1996 Cardinals Jeff Brantley – 1996 Reds Jeff Shaw – 1997 Reds Rick Aguilera – 1998 Twins Rod Beck – 1998 Cubs John Wetteland – 1999 Rangers Matt Mantei – 2000 Diamondbacks Byung-Hyun Kim – 2001 and 2002 Diamondbacks A pair of Hall of Famers and other world champion closers mixed in with some names I bet you forgot. How else can you connect Heaverlo and Wetteland? MVPs who played with Morgan Rickey Henderson – 1979 A’s Fred Lynn – 1988 Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. – 1988 Orioles Kirk Gibson – 1989-1990 Dodgers Andre Dawson – 1992 Cubs Ryne Sandberg – 1992-1994 Cubs Sammy Sosa – 1993-1995 and 1998 Cubs* Dennis Eckersley – 1996 Cardinals Willie McGee – 1996 Cardinals Barry Larkin – 1996 and 1997 Reds Kevin Mitchell – 1996 Reds Juan Gonzalez – 1999 Rangers Ivan Rodriguez – 1999 Rangers* *Indicates they won the award with Morgan as a teammate. Cy Young winners who played with Morgan Ron Guidry – 1982 Yankees Orel Hershiser – 1989-1991 Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela – 1989 and 1990 Dodgers Greg Maddux – 1992 Cubs* Dennis Eckersley – 1996 Cardinals Randy Johnson – 2000-2001-2002 Diamondbacks* *Indicates they won the award with Morgan as a teammate. Rookie of the Year winners who played with Morgan Lou Piniella – 1982 Yankees Dave Righetti – 1982 Yankees Alvin Davis – 1985 Mariners Gary Matthews – 1987 Mariners Fred Lynn – 1988 Orioles Eddie Murray – 1988 Orioles Cal Ripken, Jr. – 1988 Orioles Fernando Valenzuela – 1989 and 1990 Dodgers Alfredo Griffin – 1989-1991 Dodgers Eric Karros – 1991 Dodgers Darryl Strawberry – 1991 Dodgers Andre Dawson – 1992 Cubs Jerome Walton – 1992 Cubs Chris Sabo – 1995 Cardinals Marty Cordova – 1998 Twins Both Morgan and 1985 NL Rookie of the Year Vince Coleman played for the 1996 Cincinnati Reds, but Coleman was released by the Reds before they acquired Morgan, so the two were never technically teammates. Batting champs who played with Morgan Fred Lynn – 1988 Orioles Willie Wilson – 1993 Cubs Willie McGee – 1996 Cardinals Home run champs who played with Morgan Tony Armas – 1978 A’s Graig Nettles – 1982 Yankees Jesse Barfield – 1983 Blue Jays Gorman Thomas – 1985 and 1986 Mariners Eddie Murray – 1988 Orioles Darryl Strawberry – 1991 Dodgers Sammy Sosa – 1993-1995 and 1998 Cubs Kevin Mitchell – 1996 Reds Matt Williams – 2000-2002 Diamondbacks This list includes people who were former home run champs or would become home run champs after playing with Morgan. And if this jaw-droppingly wide net of players from different eras is not a clear illustration of the Forrest Gump-like career of Mike Morgan, look at the contrast of players he faced in his first big league year, 1978. That was when Charlie O. Finley drafted Morgan out of Valley High School in Las Vegas and sent him straight to the majors for publicity. Batters Morgan faced in 1978 Don Baylor Mark Belanger Bobby Bonds George Brett Bert Campaneris Cecil Cooper Doug DeCinces Dwight Evans Carlton Fisk “Disco” Dan Ford Bobby Grich Mike Hargrove Toby Harrah Butch Hobson Willie Horton Reggie Jackson Fred Lynn Paul Molitor Bobby Murcer Eddie Murray Lou Piniella Willie Randolph Jim Rice Joe Rudi Ken Singleton Frank White Willie Wilson Carl Yastrzemski Robin Yount Now compare those names to the batters he faced as a grizzled 42-year-old respected veteran in 2002. Batters Morgan faced in 2002 Lance Berkman Craig Biggio Sean Burroughs Mark DeRosa J. D. Drew Jim Edmonds Brian Giles Vladimir Guerrero Todd Helton Derek Jeter Derek Lee Tino Martinez Gary Matthews, Jr. Kevin Millar Mike Piazza Aramis Ramirez Juan Uribe Mo Vaughn Vernon Wells Bernie Williams Now that is spreading some time. From Gary Matthews senior to junior. There were participants of the 1967 and 1968 World Series and people who played in the 2010 World Series who faced Mike Morgan! So tip your cap to a respected veteran All-Star world champion who is 280th on the all-time wins list. Forget Kevin Bacon. He has nothing on Mike Morgan’s connections. References & ResourcesBaseball-reference.com